Food Lion Closing Middle Tenn. Stores

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — The company that owns and operates Food Lion grocery stores is closing 25 groceries in Tennessee idling about 1,100 workers. The company is also reducing operations at a distribution center in Clinton near Knoxville.

Food Lion spokeswoman Christy Phillips-Brown says a severance package is being offered to eligible employees affected by the parent company's decision to close underperforming stores.

Belgian supermarket chain Delhaize says it’s cutting almost 5,000 jobs in the United States as it closes Food Lion, Bloom and Bottom Dollar Food stores within the next 30 days.